Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member for New Juabeng South, has asked his government to abandon the proposed electronic levy.
He stated that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta must provide President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with sound economic advice.
The contentious e-levy, according to Dr. Assibey-Yeboah, who is also a former Chair of Parliament’s Finance Committee, is not the way to go in shoring up the country’s fiscal imbalance.
“Without a question, I believe we should call Washington if we haven’t already done so.” We will not request funding only on the basis of whether or not the E-levy has been enacted. The e-levy will only bring in GH5 billion.
We are in a deep hole in terms of tax collection and are having financial troubles, therefore going to the Fund will help us.
“Therefore, there is no harm in going to the Fund.” Ghana is a member of the IMF, so what’s wrong with appealing to the IMF for help when we’re in trouble and pooling resources?
If I were the finance minister, I would persuade the President that it is past time for us to return,” he told Citi FM in Accra. Mark Assibey Yeboah also stated that the money projected from the E-levy will help the government achieve the economic stability it seeks.
He also questioned the government’s capacity to meet the planned GH6.9 billion goal. He stated that the government’s maximum revenue from the contentious e-levy is GH5 billion.
“The GH6.9 billion goal will not be met. Because there are so many exclusions, I believe the most amount we can obtain from the E-levy is GH5 billion, which is less than a billion dollars, thus I do not believe the E-levy would be a revenue panacea. Going to the IMF would provide some stability, and more importantly, we will receive $3 billion.”
The imposition of the fee has met with fierce opposition from the Minority in Parliament as well as many Ghanaians.
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